Start T.J. Hockenson or Sam LaPorta? Week 7

Our Week 7 call

Start Sam LaPorta over T.J. Hockenson in Week 7.

T.J. Hockenson is listed out on the injury report, so this is not a close call: start Sam LaPorta. Drafters take Sam LaPorta at ADP 111 and T.J. Hockenson at 224.

What the market projects

No Week 7 player market is posted for Sam LaPorta yet. His market-based projections were 11.5 and 12.0 points in Weeks 4 and 5, an average of 11.8, which stands in until his Week 7 market posts.

No Week 7 player market is posted for T.J. Hockenson yet. His market-based projections were 10.7 and 10.6 points in Weeks 4 and 5, an average of 10.6, which stands in until his Week 7 market posts.

That puts Sam LaPorta 1.1 points ahead of T.J. Hockenson on these projections.

Week 7 matchups

Sam LaPorta and DET host GB on Sunday at 4:25 PM ET.

GB allowed 9.6 fantasy points a game to TEs this season over 5 games, the 8th fewest in the league.

Tight ends caught passes for 32 yards and 0.4 touchdowns a game against GB.

T.J. Hockenson and MIN host IND on Sunday at 1:00 PM ET.

IND allowed 15.9 fantasy points a game to TEs this season over 5 games, the 10th most in the league.

Tight ends caught passes for 53 yards and 0.8 touchdowns a game against IND.

By points allowed to the position, T.J. Hockenson has the softer matchup.

Injury status

Sam LaPorta is not on the injury report.

T.J. Hockenson is listed as out with a concussion injury.

Usage before Week 7

Through Week 5, Sam LaPorta played 88 percent of DET snaps, drew 20 percent of the targets, earned 15 percent of the air yards and had 13 percent of the red zone chances.

Sam LaPorta, Week 2 against BUF: 64 of 65 snaps, 7 targets and 6 catches for 52 yards, 1 touchdown.

Sam LaPorta, Week 3 against NYJ: 60 of 65 snaps, 4 targets and 3 catches for 44 yards.

Sam LaPorta, Week 4 against CAR: 56 of 71 snaps, 13 targets and 8 catches for 84 yards, 1 touchdown.

Sam LaPorta, Week 5 against ARI: 59 of 66 snaps, 5 targets and 5 catches for 88 yards, 1 touchdown.

Through Week 5, T.J. Hockenson played 60 percent of MIN snaps, drew 21 percent of the targets, earned 19 percent of the air yards and had 15 percent of the red zone chances.

T.J. Hockenson, Week 2 against CHI: 36 of 52 snaps, 4 targets and 3 catches for 29 yards.

T.J. Hockenson, Week 3 against TB: 50 of 59 snaps, 4 targets and 2 catches for 11 yards.

T.J. Hockenson, Week 4 against MIA: 65 of 78 snaps, 13 targets and 13 catches for 119 yards.

T.J. Hockenson, Week 5 against NO: 2 of 71 snaps, 1 target and 1 catch for 7 yards.

Their 2025 seasons

In 2025, Sam LaPorta played 9 games for DET and scored 106.9 PPR points, 11.9 a game, finishing TE27.

He caught 40 of 49 targets for 489 yards and 3 touchdowns, with 4 red zone targets and 215 air yards.

He was on the field for 90 percent of the offense's snaps in the games he played.

In 2025, T.J. Hockenson played 15 games for MIN and scored 112.8 PPR points, 7.5 a game, finishing TE26.

He caught 51 of 66 targets for 438 yards and 3 touchdowns, with 11 red zone targets and 224 air yards.

He was on the field for 79 percent of the offense's snaps in the games he played.

Their other Week 7 calls

• Start Sam LaPorta over Cade Otton.
• Start Sam LaPorta over Dalton Schultz.
• Start Harold Fannin Jr. over Sam LaPorta.
• Start Harold Fannin Jr. over T.J. Hockenson.
• Start Hunter Henry over T.J. Hockenson.
• Start Isaiah Likely over T.J. Hockenson.